Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University will soon be introducing a journal on social exclusion. Proposed to be named as the 'Journal of Social Exclusion', it will be an exclusive property of the KR Narayanan Centre for Dalit and Minorities Studies through which the Centre aims to spread awareness about issues related to social exclusion, minority and marginalised communities, labour among others.

"This will be the first ever journal, not only in India but in the entire Europe, dedicated solely to issues related to social exclusion," informed Mohammad Mujtaba Khan, director of the Centre.

He said further: "The process of globalisation has marginalised many communities as they feel excluded from the society. The issue of social exclusion has been identified as an important one not only in India but also in the Europe and as such, governments have been trying to mainstream these groups."

He went on to add: "The University Grant Commission (UGC) had also passed a proposal to set up centres across India dedicated to research and study of these groups and therefore, the Centre decided to introduce such a
journal."
The Centre will be working in close association with Routledge for the publication of the journal. "Routledge not only has the experience of publishing exclusive journals but also has international circulation," he reasoned, adding that, "It will be a refer journal wherein all the articles and contributions will be consulted to experts before getting published."
A bi-annual product, the journal will invite contributions from experts, academicians and researchers.

"We are also planning to include research work of scholars pursuing PhD from the Centre," Khan said. As regards the funding of the journal, he revealed: "There is a mutual understanding between the Centre and Routledge. Writers won't be paid till the circulation picks up."

"It is a proud moment that our Centre has become a leader not only in India but in the Europe as well, to introduce such a product. It is the second time that the Centre has taken a lead in taking a new step towards the issue of social exclusion, the first one being introducing a post graduate programme in social exclusion," Khan asserted.

Started in 2005, the Centre's primary objectives include generating awareness on the socio-economic, political, and cultural issues pertaining to Dalits, minorities and marginalised and socially excluded sections of the population, which it aims to achieve by encouraging inter-disciplinary research and creating various forms of intellectual platform for disseminating views and opinions concerning Dalit and minority issues. It also offers PhD, postgraduate and
diploma programmes.